Vacuum steam-heating apparatus.



J. S. KNEE.

VACUUM STEAM HEATING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, 1913.

glwumkoz wi/lmemo J 1 Stuaflliiw THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

JOHN STUART KNEE, or GRAND RAPIDS,

MICHIGAN.

VACUUM STEAM-HEATING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN STUART KNEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Vacuum Steam- Heating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to vacuum steam-heating apparatus, to provide an improved apparatus of that character whereby air and the water of condensation may be carried therefrom without interfering with the necessary circulation of the steam. This object is attained by, and the invention finds a preferable embodiment in, the apparatus hereinafter described and illustrated by the accompanying drawing.

From the boiler 1 the steam passes through a suitable supply pipe 2 into the heating radiator 3. ny air that may be therein is by the steam pressure forced out through an outlet pipe 4, (having a downward extension 12,) into a chamber 5 air-vented at 7. As

water 6 of condensation collects in this chamber the air passes up through it and escapes by the air-vent 7 when such water accumulates sufiiciently to rise above the elbow 8 of the siphon 9 it is siphoned down to the level of the lower end 10 of such siphons short arm, (which lower end is above the outlet of pipe 12), and such water is carried by such siphoning into a lower and closed chamber 11. When the water accumulates in this chamber sufficiently to rise above the elbow 13 of a second siphon 14:, it is carried by the pipe 16 into the boiler 1 below its water level. A suitable ball check valve 17 prevents the flow from the chamber 5 into the pipe 4; and a similar valve (indicated at 18) closes the siphon 1& against its siphoning operation whenever a sufficient degree of vacuuln is formed in the boiler 1 to close this valve 18: when such sufficient vacuum is thus formed, it of course persists until the boiler pressure is sufficient to permit the unseating of the valve 18, and there is thus always maintained a liquid seal at the bottom of the sufficiently long short arm of siphon 14. It will be understood that the check valve 17 is to prevent any flow whatever from the chamber 5-into the pipe 4; but that the valve 18 is so adjusted, as by the weight of its ball, as to permit a flow from the chamber 11 into the boiler, unless a certain degree of vacuum is and its object is Specification of Letters Patent. I Patgnted J 11 -27, 1916, Application filed June 30, 1913. Serial No. 776,464. r

formed in the boiler. A check valve (indicated at 19) prevents the flow of water or steam from the boiler into pipe 16 and a suitable shut-off cock 20 and ordinary draincocks 21 of common form are shown, while an automatic heat-operated air valve of ordinary formis provided at 15.

From the foregoing description of my heating system and its operation, it will be seen that thefair is effectually expelled therefrom through the vent 7 and that the water of condensation is returned to the boiler,-- all without interfering with the proper circulationof the steam in such system.

Not confining myself to details of construction shown or described, I claim:

1. A steam-heating system of the charac ter described, having a boiler; a radiator; an air-vented vessel adapted to hold water of condensation; an oppositely-check-valvedair pipe leading from the radiator to the vessel; a closed chamber; means for automatically emptying into the chamber such water from above a determined level in the vessel, which level is higher than the outlet therein of the air pipe; and an oppositelycheck-valved pipe automatically emptying into the boiler such water from above a determined level in the chamber.

2. A steam-heating system of the character described, having a boiler; a radiator; an air-vented vessel adapted to hold water of condensation; an oppositely-check-valved air pipe'leading from the radiator to the vessel; a closed chamber; a pipe for emptying into the chamber such water from above a determined level in the vessel, which level is higher than the outlet therein of the air pipe; and an oppositely-check-valved siphon for emptying into the boiler such wa ter from above a determined level in the chamber.

3. A steam-heating system of the character described, having a boiler; a radiator; an air-vented vessel adapted to hold water of condensation; an oppositely-check-valved air pipe leading from the radiator to the vessel; a closed chamber; a siphon for emptying into the chamber such water from above a determined level in the vessel, which level is higher than the outlet therein of the air pipe; and an oppositely-check-valved siphon for emptying into the boiler such water from above a determined level in the chamber.

at. A steam-heating system of the character described, having a boiler; a radiator; an air-vented vessel adapted to hold water of condensation; an oppositely-check-valved air pipe leading from the radiator to the vessel; a closed chamber; a pipe for emptying into the chamber such water from above a determined level in the'vessel, which level is higher than the outlet therein of the air pipe; and an opposit'ely-check-valved siphon for emptying into the boiler such water from above a determined level in the chamber, said siphon having also a checkvalve adapted to be automatically closed by a determined degree of vacuum in the boiler.

5. A steam-heating system of the character described, having a boiler; a radiator; an air-vented vessel adapted to hold water of condensation; an oppositely-cheek-valved air pipe leading from the radiator to the vessel; a closed chamber; a siphon for emptying into the chamber such water from above a determined level in the vessel, which level is higher than the outlet therein of the air pipe; and an oppositely-check-valved siphon for emptying into the boiler such wa ter from above a determined level in the chamber, said siphon having also a checkvalve adapted to be automatically closed by a determined degree of vacuum in the boiler.

6. In a steam-carrying system, a steam boiler, a chamber above the boiler and adapted to hold water of condensation, steam-carrying connections leading from the boiler to the chamber, and an oppositelycheck-valved siphon for emptying such water from the chamber into the boiler, said siphon having a check-valve adapted to be automatically closed by a determined degree of vacuum in the boiler.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

I JOHN STUART KNEE. lVitnesses:

L. DEWYH, CLARE J. HALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, I). G. 

